Thanks to it innovative world-first Pedestrian Airbag technology, Volvo's new V40 achieved five stars in the Euro NCAP ratings making it the safest car tested in this segment.

What particularly distinguishes the V40 from other vehicles is the Pedestrian Airbag technology, fitted as standard on the entire V40 range. In case of a crash with a pedestrian, sensors detect the impact, release the bonnet and deploy the airbag in a split second. The pedestrian airbag lifts the hood and partly covers the stiff A-pillars providing greater protection for the pedestrian. In Euro NCAP's tests, this has translated into a 88% score in pedestrian protection, the highest score yet achieved in this part of the assessment.

Other notable scorers included the Ford B-MAX with its sliding rear doors that also achieved five star rating. To ensure the highest levels of protection in lateral collisions, a structure is incorporated into the doors to form a central post when the doors are shut. Euro NCAP found that safety was uncompromized as the B-MAX scored 92 % for adult occupant protection. The mini MPV also comes with Active City Safety, an AEB system previously rewarded under Euro NCAP Advanced which helps the driver achieve maximum braking effectiveness in an emergency situation.

The list of five star achievers is closed with the latest versions of the Renault Clio, Kia Cee'd and Audi A3.